Buckle stock forming machine and method



Nov. 19, 1963 R. w. wlNBr-:RG

BUCKLE STOCK F ORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March l0. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 19, 1963 R. W. WINBERG BUCKLE STOCK FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March l0. 1960 FIGZ.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 19, 1963 R. w.w1NB1-:RG

BUCKLE sTocK EoRMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 10. 1960 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l 6 WN mw m m N P Nov. 19, 1963 R. w. wlNBER; BUCKLE sTocx EORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Eiledmarch 10, 19Go 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

FIG.

FIG. 7.

United States Patent O 3,111,156 BUCKLE STOCK FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Ragnar W. Winberg, 115 W. Elder Ave., Floral Park, NX. Filed Mar. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 14,047 6 Claims. (Cl. 153-1) The present invention relates generally to buckle manufacturing and specifically to a machine and method for the manufacture of buckle-forming stock of the type `having a metallic core sheathed With a material facing 'and to an improved Ibuckle body.

In the manufacture of belt buckles, it is often desirable to Isheath a buckle, frame or body with a material covering such that it matches with, or contrasts with, the garment on which it is worn. A number of different techniques have been employed to manufacture covered buckle-forming stock, the most frequently used method involving sewing a material facing strip around a wire core. This results in a buckle-forming stock including a wire core surrounded by a material covering having a sewn welting extending the length of the wire core. The buckle-forming stock is then formed into buckle frames by the use of forming machines, such as disclosed in my Patent No. 2,739,367, entitled Buckle-Forming Machine, of March 27, 1956. Although such Wire-core buckle frames `are widely used and are acceptable generally `to the trade, the present invention contemplates an improved buckle stock which may be manufactured on a substantially automatic basis and may be formed into a buckle body by essentially conventional techniques.

A persistent problem which arises in the manufacture of covered, or sheathed, belt buckles, is that the sheathing material often is not available in a long continuous strip. This situation is normally encountered in the manufacture of self belts Where both the belt and buckle are sheathed with the material used in the garment on which the belt is to be worn. It will be appreciated that the most economical source of material for use on the belts and buckles is from the material remnants which rem-ain after the garment itself has been cut. It will be further appreciated that these remnants are usually of relatively short lengths. It is therefore advantageous to provide, in a machine for the manufacture of sheathed buckle-forming stock, a means to use short lengths of facing material in a substantially automatic operation. It is further advantageous to provide a means for fabricating covered buckle stock in one manufacturing operation. It has Igenerally been the practice to cover a wire core with pieces of fabric and then, in a separate operation, stitch a welting in the fabric along the length of the wire core thus producing a stock to be utilized to form a covered buckle.

Broadly, it is .the `object of the present invention to provide an improved buckle-forming stock. Specifically, it is the object of my invention to provide a buckle-forming stock comprising a at metallic core strip which is sheathed, without stitching, with a material facing.

It is further within the contemplation of the present invention to provide means and a method to fabricate a sheathed `buckle-making stock in a single manufacturing operation.

It is a further object `of my invention to provide an improved buckle stock which may be formed into buckles in conventional and available machinery, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which resuits in a product having improved characteristics.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a machine `and method for the manufacture of an improved buckle-forming stock on a continuous basis. The present invention contemplates the use of short lengths of strips of material facings and another object ICC of lche invention is to provide a machine and method which will eiiiciently and inexpensively combine these short lengths of material with `a metallic core strip for the production `of buckle-forming stock.

in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an improved buckle stock comprising an elongated core strip which includes a main core section and a clinching section extending along one side thereof. An elongated material facing strip is provided which is Wider than the core strip and Which includes a main facing section confronting 'one face of the core strip, and auxiliary facing sections on either side of the main facing section. vOne of the auxiliary facing sections is wrapped about the clinching section and extends over to the opposite face thereof. The clinching section of the core strip is folded back against the main core section with the edges of the material facing strip contained therebetween to clinch the facing strip to the core strip. The assembly of the core strip and the facing strip is longitudinally folded in half with the clinching section contained within the folded halves of the main core section, the main facing section =of the facing strip forming the opposite `outside surfaces Iof the buckle stock.

In accordance with method aspects of the present invention ythere is provided a method of producing a buckleforming stock from an elongated metallic core strip and a facing strip. The core strip is bent to form :a main core section and a side adjacent clinching section which is less than one half the width of the main core section. A facing strip is formed by joining facing material with a continuous lining strip and the facing strip is wrapped about the core strip bringing opposite edge portions of the facing strip into supenposed relation intermediate the inner face of the clinching section and the inner face of the main core section. The clinching section is then folded Iagainst the main core section to clinch the opposite edge portions of the facing strip and to secure the facing strip about the core strip. The assembly of the core strip and the facing strip is then longitudinally bent in ,half to bring the halves of said main core section into confronting relationship with said clinching section sandwiched therebetween to complete the manufacture of the buckle-forming stock. The buckle-forming stock is then cut into the appropriate lengths for forming buckles and the buckle-forming stock is then formed into belt buckles.

An illustrative machine according to the present invention is provided for the manufacture of improved buckleforming stock. The buckle stock forming machine includes a preforming station where an elongated core strip is bent to form a main ycore section and a side adjacent clinching section bent at an angle thereto. A laminating and trimming station is provided which is effective to join facing material with a continuous lin-ing strip to form a facing strip. The facing strip is joined with the core strip in an assembly station which is effective to wrap the facing strip about the core strip and to further bend the rclinching section against the main core section. Roller means are then provided to clinch the clinching section against the main core section and then to longitudinally fold the main core section -in half. Cut-olf means are provided to cut the finished buckle-forming stock into appropriate lengths to be formed into buckle frames.

The above brief descriptions, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be best appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a front elevational view of a buckle stock forming machine according to the present invention, illus- 3 trating the flow of materials into the machine and compl-eted buckle stock out of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a partial rear elevational view showing a portion of the dnive mechanism for the machine;

FIG. 3 is a left end elevational view of the machine shown in FIG. 1, further illustrating the drive mechanisms and showing the buckle stock cut-off device;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and looking in the ldirection of the arrows with portions of the machine omitted for the sake of clarity and illustrating further portions of the driving mechanisms for the elements of the machine;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a buckle frame employing buckle stock as produced by the illustrated machine; and,

FIGS. 6 through 17 are sectional views taken ralong the lines 6 6 through 17-1'7 respectively of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows. These figures depict the various operational processes of the machine as the material flows therethrough, specifically;

FIG. 6 -shows trimming rollers, trimming the edges of the facing material;

FIG. '7 shows the metal core strip entering the machine;

FIG. 8 shows the rst bending means at the preforming station;

FIG. 9 shows the second bending means at the preforming station;

FIG. 10 shows the first drive wheels;

FIGS. 11 and 12 depict operations at the assembly station, specifically:

FIG. 11 illustrates the entrance to the folder with a core section and facing strip entering therein; and,

FIG. 12 illustrates a further section of the folder wherein the facing strip has been assembled with the core section;

FIGS. 13 through 17 are sectional views at various locations along the roller means wherein the facing strip is secured to the core. Specifically:

FIG. 13 illustrates the first clinching rollers wherein the :clinching section is secured against the main core section;

FIG. 14 shows the second roller means wherein the main 'core section is folded around the clinching section;

FIG. 15 illustrates the third roller means wherein the main core section is further folded around the clinching section;

FIG. 16 shows the fourth roller means wherein the main core section is folded `completely around the clinching section; and

FIG. 17 illustrates the alignment rollers wherein the buckle stock is oriented into vertical position.

Prior to a. detailed description of a presently preferred but illustrative apparatus of my invention, a detailed reference will be made to FIGS. 6 through 17 in the drawings for a general description of a manufacturing process according to the invention. It should be noted that in the sequence of operations as depicted in FIGS. 7 through 17, the materials flow in a direction out from the drawings towards the viewer. In FIG. 7 a metal core strip 10, which is to be the structural base of the finished buckle stock 12 (shown in FIG. 17), is shown entering the first or pre-forming station 14 through the entrance slit 18 in a preforming block 16. The metal core strip 1l) has a clinching section 20 and a main core section 22 with the clinching section 20 being less than one-third the total width of the metal core strip 10. Entrance slit 18 is equal in depth to the width of the main core section 22 such that the clinching section 20 projects therefrom. As the metal core strip progresses from the position shown in FIG. 7 to the position shown in FIG. 8, the clinching section 20 contacts a rst bending roller 24 which is positioned to bend that portion of the metal core strip 10 which projects from out of the entrance slit 13 back at an angle with respect to the main core section 22. The clinching section 20 is further bent in an up- 4 ward direction by the second bending roller 26 positioned to bend the clinching section 20 to a right angle position with respect to the main core section 22, as shown in FIG. 9.

The metal core stnip 10 is drawn through the preforming station 14 illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9 by the drive roller assembly 28. In FIG. 10, the first pair of drive rollers 3i), 32 are shown with the main core section 22 of the metal core strip l@ gripped therebetween. The drive roller assembly 28, driven as will be described below, is effective to draw the metal core stnip 10 through the preforming station 14 and deliver it to the next station, the assembly station 36 shown in section in FIGS. 11 `and 12.

A facing stript 38 is introduced at the assembly station 36 along with the inflowing metal core strip 101 The facing strip is fabricated substantially concurrent with the preforming operations described above at a laminating and trimming station 4t). The facing strip 38 is constructed of a facing material 42 and a continuous lining strip 44, the fabrication of which will be described in .detail below. After the facing strip 38 has been formed it is passed through a trimming device, best seen in FIG. 6 and to be more fully described below, wherein its edges are trimmed such that the resulting product is an evenly edged strip appearing to be of a single layer of material. For the sake of clarity the facing strip 38 has been illustrated in all drawings except FIG. 6` as being a single layered fabric strip, it being understood that the facing strip 38 is `composed of a material facing 42 and a continuous lining strip 44 which have been adhesively laminated together.

In the assembly station 36 a folder 48 wh-ich receives both the pre-formed metal core strip 10 and the facing strip 38, wraps the facing strip 38 around the core strip 1t? and bends the clinching section 20 against the main core section 22 thus securing the facing strip 38 to the core strip itl. FIGS. 11 and l2 are sectional views at the beginning and the end of the operations in the assembly station 36 showing the folder 48 at its widest and narrowest points. As best seen in FIG. 12, the assembled core strip 1) and facing strip 38 passes out of the narrow end of the folder 48 with the clinching section 26 further bent towards the main core section 22 thereby holding the facing strip 38 about the core strip 10. The facinfy strip 38 is of a width vgreater than the total width o-f the core strip itl plus the width of the main core section 22. It is thus possible to wrap the yfacing strip 38 around the ycore strip l@ and clinch the clinching section 20 against the main core section 22 with both edges of the facing strip contained therebetween. The facing strip 38 has a main facing section 38a medially of said facing strip 3S which is adapted to confront the iface of the main core section 22 directed away from the clinching section 20. Two auxiliary facing sections 38b and 38C, located on either side of the main facing section 38a, are adapted to be wrapped around the remaining surfaces of the core strip 10, their respective edges being positioned between the main core section 22 and the folded clinching section 20.

After emerging from the assembly station 36 the assembled core strip 10 an-d facing strip 38, comprising the partiaily completed buckle stock 12a, pass through a series of driven shaping rollers [generally ydesignated by the numeral 5ft. The sequence of operations in the shaping rollers 5t) are illustrated in FIGS. 13 through 16 and their locations are illustrated in FIG. 1. The assembled core strip .lil and facing strip 38 or the partially completed buckle stock 12a first passes through clinching rollers 52., 54 wherein the clinching section 20 is bent flat against the main core section Z2 for permanently securing the facing strip 38 thereto thus producing assembly lb; first main core section folding rollers 56, 58 which are effective to start folding the main core section 22 about the clin'ching section 2G to produce the assembly 12C as shown in FIG. 14; second main `core section folding rollers 60, 62 effective to further bend the main core section 22 to form assembly 12d; and, final clinching rollers 64, 66 to complete the folding of the main core section 22 about the clinching section 20 to produce a buck-le forming stock 12 as seen in FIGS. 16 and 17. In FIG. 17 further roller means `are illustrated comprising a pair of horizontally opposed alignment rollers 68, 70 which are effective to orient the buckle forming stock 12 prior to the cut-off operation to be described in detail below.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 for a `description of the overall configuration and operation of the buckle forming machine, generally designated by the numeral 100. The machine 16@ is supported on a fiat bed or base 102 which -stands on three pairs of legs 164-61, 104b and 104e. The sequence of operations as described above and as illustrated in FIGS. 7 through `17 occurs as the core strip 10 flows from right to left as viewed in FIG. 1. At the right hand end of the 1base 102, as viewed in FIG. 1, there is located the pre-'forming block 116 `at the pre-forming station 14. As described above in connection with FIGS. 8 and 9 the metal core strip `1th is preformed at preforming station 14 by the action of a first and second bending rollers 24 and 26. Ihe first bending roller 24 is mounted on the preforming block 16 by means of a first mounting block 166 secured to the preforming block 16, a 'pivot screw 108 and washer `1161. The pivot screw 108 is oriented at a 45 angle to Kthe plane ofthe main `core section 22 such that the first bending roller 24 is effective to bend the clinching section 20 to a 45 relationship with the main core section 22. The second bending roller 26 is similarly mounted on the preforming block 16 by means of a second mounting block 112, a pivot screw 114 and a washer 116. In this case the axis of rotation of the second bending roller 26 is at right angles to the main core section 22, such that the clinching section .is bent at right angles to the main core section 22 as seen in FIG. 9.

The lcore strip 10 is drawn through the preforming station 14 tby the action of the drive roller assembly 28 located immediately to the left of the preforrning station 14 as viewed in FIG. f1. Two pairs of vertically oriented co-acting drive rollers 36, 32 and 301, land 321 are mounted in a side by side relationship and are effective to grip the core strip 10 between the cooperating rollers of each pair. Although a detailed description of the drive mechanism for the buckle stock forming machine 10) is to be ygiven below, including the drive and mounting means for the ydrive roller assembly 28, it should be noted that the lower two rollers 32, 321 are driven at an equal and uniform speed in a countercloclcwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 and that the upper rollers 30, 301 are driven in a clockwise direction by suitable gearing means connected to the rotation of rollers 32, 321 respectively. It should be `further noted that the upper rollers 30, 301 are not rigidly mounted on the machine 160 but are movable in a vertical direction and are biased against rollers 32, 321 respectively by spring `loaded mounts to be described more fully in connection with the overall `drive mechanism. Thus, wheels 30, 32 and 301, 321 coact to grasp the core strip 10 through the pre-forming station 14.

The core strip 10, 4now comprised of a main core section 22 and a clinching section 20 at right angles thereto, passes on to the assembly station 36 and into the open end of the folder 48 as `best viewed in the sectional View of FIG. 111. Folder 48 is mounted along the path of travel of the core strip 10 by means of the mounting bracket and facing strip guide 1126 which is also effective to guide the iiow of the facing strip 38 through a facing strip passage 128 in the base 162 `from the laminating and trimming station 40. The mounting bracket 126 is suitably shaped to guide the facing strip 38 into the folder 48 for assembly with the core strip 10 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 as described above.

After leaving the `assembly station 36 the combined core strip- 10 and facing strip 38, now the partially completed buckle forming stock 12a, passes into the first pair of driven shaping rollers 52, 54 of the four such pairs of shaping rollers in the roller shaping means 59 to be successively formed into assemblies 12b, 12C, 12d and finally buckle stock 12. Each of the four pairs, namely rollers 52 and 54, 56 and 58, 60 and G2, and 66 and 64, are similarly mounted. The 'lowermost roller of each of these pairs is rigidly mounted and is driven in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, the uppermost roller of each pair being `driven `in a clockwise direction and is biased towards its matting roller to co-act therewith in a manner similar to the mounting of the drive rollers 31.1, 32 and 301, '321. The mounting means for the shaping rollers of the roller means 50 are similar Ito the mounting means for the drive rollers of drive roller assembly 28 and will be fully described in connection With the description of the main drive assembly.. After passing successively through rollers 52, and 54, 56 and 58, 61B and 62, and 64 and 66, the buckle forming stock 12 appears as is lshown in FIG. 16 and as was described above.

Immediately to the left of the shaping roller means 50 there is mounted on the bed 102 an upstanding bracket having a horizontally extending support arm 132 which supports the horizontally opposed alignment rollers 68, '76 on pivotal mounts 134. The alignment rollers 68, 70 are effective to orient the buckle stock 12 in a vertical direction for ease of handling in the subsequent operation. Mounted on the upstanding support 1130l is a guide collar 136 through which passes the buckle forming stock 12 on its way to` the cut-off means |138 located on the leftmost end of the base ,102.

After the completion of the manufacture of the buckle forming stock 12 as described above in the machine 100, it have been found desirable to cut the stock 12 into the proper length for the formation of a finished buckle frame 14) as shown in FIG. 5. Since there are three layers of the core strip 10 and six llayers of the facing strip 38 in Ithe buckle stock 12, it is relatively difficult to bend and therefore desirable to handle in short lengths. The cutolf means 138 is effective to accompli-sh this operation. Since the buckle stock 12 is moving through the machine at a relatively rapid rate, it is required that the cut-olf device 138 be mounted for movement With the buckle stock 12 as the cut-off operation is perfor-med. For this purpose the cut-off means `138 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal Ibar 142 rigidly connected to the base 10 2 by the mounting block 144. The main section 146 of the cut-off means 138 is pivotally mounted on the horizontal bar 142 by bearings 148, :150 which are rigidly connected to the main section 146 and rotate therewith on the stationary bar 142. As an integral vertical extension of the main section 146 there is a shearing blade 152 which co-acts with a related shearing blade 154 pivotally mounted on the shearing extension 152 by the nut and bolt assembly 156. The shearing extension 152 and the shearing blade 154 each have, at their uppermost eX- ttremity a shaped knifed edge 158, 1160* respectively, which are located in 1line with the path of travel of the buckle stock 112 as it passes through the guide 136. Upon rotation of the shearing Iblade 154 with relation to the shearing extension 152 about the pivotal mount 156 the cut-olf device `138 is effective to cut the buckle stock 12. Because of its mount on the horizontal bar `142i, the complete cut-olf device 138 can pivot land the shaped knifed edges 15S, 160` can make an arcuate traverse as indicated by the curved arrow in FIG. 1, thus traveling with the buckle stock 12 as the knifed edges 158, 160 are in their cutting operation. A coil spring 162 is secured at one end to the horizontal bar 142 and at its other end is biased against the upstanding shearing extension I152 of the cut-olf device 138 and is thus effective to bias the complete cut-off device 138 in a clockwise direction as viewed in yFIG. =l. The spring 162 is therefore effective to return the cut-off device 138` to a vertical orientation upon the completion of a cutting operation. Operative means for the cut-olf device 138 include a solenoid 164 which has a plunger =166 pivotally connected to the shearing blade 154 at pivot 168 by link 170 which is pivotally connected to the plunger 166 at pivot 172. A spring 1'74 is positioned between the link 1'70 and a downwardly extending extension 176 on the forward end of the main section 146. The spring i174 is yeffective to bias the link 170 in a direction which normally keeps the cut-oil device 138 in an inoperative position. Upon energization of the solenoid 164 the plungeris effective to draw the link 170 to the rear land thus to rotate the shearing blade 154 about the pivot 156 which brings the shaped knifed edges 158, 160` into operative relationship thus cutting off a length of buckle stock 112. The cut-olf device 138 rotates in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. l) about the horizontal bar 142 during the operation of the cut-olf device 138 and when the shearing extension 152 and shearing blade 154 are opened the cut-off device 1-38 returns to its normally vertical orientation by the action of spring 162. A locating stop 1178 is secured to the base 102 for positioning the cut-olf idevice 138 in a vertical orientation at the completion of a cut-olf operation. The solenoid 164 is energized by the normally open micro switch 180 which is closed at periodical intervals during the operation of the machine 100 as will be subsequently described.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. l and 3 for a description of the mounting means for shaping rollers 60 and `62, said means being similar .in all respects to the mounting means for rollers 30 and 32, 301 and 321, 52

and 54, and S6 and 58. The mounting mechanisms for rollers 64 and 66 are similar to the above with the exception of the rotation lfrom the vertical of the full mounting mechanism as will be described below. The lower roller 62 is rigidly secured to the horizontally oriented shaft 182 which is mounted for rotation in bearings 184 at the rear and 186 at the front of the shaft 182. rThe roller 62 extends forwardly of the forward bearing 186. The bearings 184, 186 are mounted on upstanding bearing supports 188, 190 respectively. The upper shaping roller 60 is rigidly secured to the rotating shaft 132 mounted for rotation in bearings 194 to the rear and 196 to the front and is oriented parallel to and above the roller 62. The rear bearing 194 is mounted on the bearing support 198 wlhich is positioned above the base 102 by the upstanding supports 200, 202 which are rigidly secured to the base 102. The forward bearing 196 is sl-idably mounted on a pair of vertically oriented bearing slide rods 204, such that the bearing 196 may move vertically with respect to the bearing 186 on the forward end of the lower shaft 182. The lower ends of the slide rods 204 are secured to lower bearing support 190 and the upper ends 206 thereof are suitably threaded to receive an adjustment nut 208. interposed between the adjustment nut 208 land the bearing 196 and positioned coaxially around the bearing slide rods 204 are coil springs 212 which are effective to bias the bearing 196 towards the bearing 186 and therefore to bias the upper roller 60 toward the lower roller 62. Adjustment of the magnitude of this bias force may be made by turning the adjustment nut 208 thus changing the distance between the bearing 196 and the adjust-ment nut 208 and thus varying the force 'transmitted by the spring 212 through the described mechanism to the roller 60. It should be noted that the amount of travel of the roller 60 in a vertical direction is relatively slight, it being merely the thickness of the buckle stock as shown in FIG. 15, and therefore the vertical travel of the bearing 96 is relatively small. The shaft 192 passing through bearing 196 thus makes a very small rotation about its rear bearing 194 which is constructed to allow for this slight movement. Mounted intermediate the bearings 184 and 186 on the lower shaft 182 is a drive sprocket 248 adapted to receive a linlochain drive to be described below. Intermediate the drive sprocket 248 and the bearing 184 there is rigidly 'attached to the lower shaft 182 a spur gear 216 which mates with a spur gear 218 of equal diameter rigidly mounted on the upper shaft 192. Thus when the lower shaft 182 .is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, the upper shaft 192 rotates in a clockwise direction the drive being transferred through gears 216 and 218 respectively.

The mounting mechanism described in connection with rollers 60 and 62 are found .in substantially identical form tin the rollers 30 and 32, 301 and 321, 52 and 54, 56 and 58, and 64 and 66. Each of these pairs of rollers have lower and upper shafts 192 respectively, bearings 186, 188, 194 land 1516, and mating spur gears 216, 218. As may be best seen in FIG. 3 the nal clinching rollers 64, 66, although having similar drive mechanisms and mounting means are not oriented in a vertical configuration as are all the other pairs of rollers. An angular support bracket 219 is rigidly secured to the base 102 and extends at an angle thereto immediately to the left of the mounting means for rollers 60 and 62. The bearing supports 188 and 190 for the rollers 64, 66 are mounted thereon as are the supports 200 and 202. With this exception the mounting means for rollers `64 and 66 are identical to the mounting means for the other pairs of rollers in the machine 106.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 for a description of the drive means for the respective pairs of rollers incorporated in lche buckle stock forming machine 100. An electric motor 220, controlled by a manually operated switch (not shown), is secured to the lower side of the base 102 `and has a Idrive pulley 222 mounted on its output shaft 221. -Belt 224 is connected from the pulley 222 to a large diameter drive pulley 226 having an integral spur gear 228 and mounted for rotation on shaft 230 which is in turn secured to the 'base 102 yat the rear of the mounting means for rollers 301 and 321. Enmeshed with the spur gear 1228 on the drive pulley 226 is a spur gear of greater diameter 232 on a rearward extension of shaft 182 of the roller 32. Thus a speed reduction is achieved from the motor 220 through the pulley 222, the belt 224, the drive wheel 226, the spur gear y228, the mating spur gear 232, to the shaft 182 connected to the roller 32. As best seen in FIG. 4, positive driving :connections are made between the lower shaft 182 of each of the pairs of rollers in the machine 100 with the exception of rollers 64, 66 the drive means of which will be described below. A double sprocket 233 is rigidly secured between the spur gear 216 and the forward bearing 186 on the shaft 182 of the roller 321. Connection is made to the rollers 30, 32 by means of -a link chain 234 and the sprocket 236 mounted on shaft 182 of the roller 32. Sprocket 136 is of the same diameter as tha-t pontion of sprocket 233 over which link chain 234 is engaged, thus roller 321 turns at the same rate as roller 32. Link chain 238 is connected to the other portion of double sprocket 233 and is linked over a similar double sprocket 240 mounted on the shaft 182 of roller 54. Link chain 242 is connected in turn from sprocket 240 to a double sprocket 244 rigidly mounted on the shaft 182 of roller 58. Link clrain 246 is connected to sprocket 244 and then to sprocket 248 which is rigidly connected to the shaft 182 of roller 62. It will thus be appreciated that rollers 32, 321, 54, 58 and 62 turn at the same rate of speed and in the same direction and, through the respective pairs of spur gears 216, 218 on the respective rotating shafts 182 and 192, the rollers 30, 301, 52, 56, and 60 turn in Ian equal nate and in the opposite direction. Drive means for the final clinching rollers 64, 66 are provided through a rearward extension 250 of the shaft 192 of roller 60, extension 250 extending rearwardly of the rear bearing 194 and having rigidly attached thereto a bevelled gear 252. .Bevelled gear 252 is connected to la mating bevel gear 254 rigidly secured to a vertical rotating shaft 256 mounted in hearings 258, i260 which are supported on brackets 262, 264 suitably secured to the base 102. At the upper end of shaft 256 is rigidly mounted a grooved belt pulley 266 which transmits rotational power to the roller -66 through belt 268. The shaft 182 of roller 66 has a rearward extension 270 which extends rearward of the bearing 196 and on which is rigidly secured a grooved pulley 272 of the same size and configuration as pulley 266. The belt 268 is connected between pulleys I266 and 272 `and is effective to transmit power between the shafts 256 and 182 on roller 66, even though said shafts are askew in relation to each other. Since the gearings and pulley arrangements as described above are all in a one-to-one relationship with each other, the rate lof drive of roller 66, and therefore roller 64, are equal to the rotational speed of the other pairs of rollers as described above. Therefore, as material fiows along the path of manufacture it encounters la series of paired coacting rollers driven tat the same speed which grasp the material therebetween and advance it along its path of travel.

A description will now be given of the laminating and trimming station 40 with reference being made -to FIGS. 1 rand 6. The function of the laminating and trimming station 40 is to join the continuous lining strip 44 with the facing material 42 thus producing the facing strip 38 which is assembled with the core strip 10 in the assembly station 36 as has heen heretofore described. The laminating and trimming station 40, which Iis located below and forwardly of the preforming station 14 and the drive roller assembly 28, consists generally of an adhesive applying mechanism 274, joining rollers 276, 278 and trimming rollers 280, 282 comprising the trimming device 46.

The joining rollers 276, 278 and the trimming rollers 288, 282 are mounted on an auxiliary base i284 located below the main base 102 and supported on the pair of the legs 104e `and on an auxiliary pair of legs 286. The mounting means for joining rollers 276, 278 land the trimming rollers 288, 282 are similar to the mounting means described above for the drive roller assembly 28 and the shaping roller means 50. The lower roller of each pair, specifically joining roller 278 and trimming roller 282, are rigidly supported upon the auxiliary base 284 by means of horizontally oriented rotating shafts 182 mounted for rotation in bearings 184 to the rear and 186 to the front (see iFIG. 3). The bearings 184, 186 are supported in turn by `bearing supports 188, 190 which are rigidly secured to the auxiliary base 284. The upper rollers of each pair, joining roller 276 and trimming roller 280, are mounted on shafts 192 which are supported in bearings 194 to the rear and 196 to the front, the rear bearing being rigidly connected to the auxiliary *base 284 and ,the front bearing 196 being slideably supported on bearing support rods 204 and biased in a downward direction lby springs 212 and adjustment nuts 208. Mating spur gears 216, 218 mounted on shafts 182, 192 respectively are effective to link the rotational movement of the rollers in each pair. The pairs of rollers themselves are linked by llink chain 288 attached to `suitable driving sprockets on the lower shafts 182. It will thus be appreciated that the mounting mechanism for the joining rollers 276, 278 and the trimming rollers 280, 282 are identical to the mounting mechanism for the shaping rollers 50 and the drive rollers 28 described in detail above. The drive mechanism for the laminating and trimming station 40 however, is not linked to the main drive assembly of the buckle stock forming machine 180. An auxiliary motor 298 and speed reduction 292 having an output shaft and pulley 294 is secured below the auxiliary base 284 and attached to the pair of legs 104e by mounting plate 296. A drive 'belt 298 connects the output shaft and pulley 294 of the speed reduction 292 to the lower shaft 182 of joining roller 278 by suitable pulley means and is 10 therefore effective to drive the joining rollers 276, 278 and the trimming rollers 280, 282. rllhe power supply to the secondary motor 298 is controlled independently of the power supply to the main motor 220 in a manner -to be more fully detailed below.

The adhesive 'applying mechanism 274 is positioned above the upper joining roller 276, secured to the underside of the base 102 by bracket 300. 'Ilhe continuous lining strip 44 enters the adhesive applying mechanism 274 from ta supply (not shown) located above the machine 108. The adhesive applying mechanism, of a standard well known design, is effective to apply adhesive to one face of the lining strip 44. After adhesive has been applied to one face of the lining strip 44 the other face then contacts the upper joining roller 276 to be joined with the facing material 4Z. A delivery hose 302 is attached to the adhesive applying mechanism 274 and is effective to deliver a supply of adhesive material thereto from an external source (not shown).

A work table 384, supported on the legs 104a by bracket 386, is positioned at the height of the contact point between joining rollers 276, 278 .and extends immediately to the rig-ht thereof as viewed in FIG. l. An operator holds a piece of material facing 42, with its face against Ithe top of the work table 304, and feeds the facing material 42 into the joining rollers 276, 278 to be adhesively joined with the lining strip 44 by the rolling pressure exerted by rollers 276 and 27 8.

After the backing strip 44 and the material facing 42 have been joined together they pass to the trimming device 46 which consists of the trimming rollers 280, 282 which are best seen in the sectional view of FIG. 6. The lower roller 282 is of rectangular cross section and acts to support the combined facing material 42 and backing strip 44 as its passes through the trimming device 46. The upper roller 280 has a pair of circumferentialiy extending knife edges 308 at its edges with a fiat annular groove 310 located therebetween. The knife edges 308 are effective, upon rotation of the rollers 280, 282, to trim the edges of the facing strip 38 removing the excess facing material 42a, thus producing a unitary, parallelsided facing strip 38. Upon leaving the laminating and trimming station 40 the facing strip 38 passes to a control mechanism 31.2 to be described in detail below. A curved guide bracket 314 secured to the underside of the base 182 is then effective to guide the facing strip 38 through the facing strip passage 128 in the base 102 on its way to the assembly station 36.

The ydrive mechanisms for the facing and laminating station 40 are controlled independently of the drive for the rest of the buckle forming machine 188. rIlhe gearing in the speed reduction unit 292 is such that the joining rollers 276, 278 and the trimming roliers 280 and 282 rotate at a rate of speed which is faster than the rotation of the rollers in the drive roller assembly 28 and the shaping rollers 5i). This allows a variable lengthened loop 316 of facing strip 38 to be produced ybetween the trimming rollers 46 and the assembly station 36. While the travel of the core stock 10 is continuous the manufacturing process at the laminating and trimming station 49 is periodically interrupted thus allowing the operator to piace new pieces of facing material 42 on the work table 384 and then into the joining rollers 276, 278. The control rneans governing the operations of the trimming and laminating station 48, control means 312, are effective to measure the amount of facing strip 38 stored in the loop 316 and to turn on the motor 298 when the loop 38 is relatively short rand to turn olf the motor 298 when the loop 316 is relatively long. The control means 312 consists of a pivotally mounted control rod 318 having a weighted roller 328 supported in the loop 316 as is best seen in FIG. 1. The other end of the control rod 318 is connecte-d at pivot 3212 to the mounting block 324 located on the supporting legs 18411. A toggle switch 325 having a toggle 326 is secured to the underside of the base 102 on plate 325a and is elfeotive to control the electrical power to the motor 29d which drives the trimming and laminating station dit. Toggle switch 325 is of the hold Contact type which maintains either an on or oit position until its toggle 32o is moved. A link bar 323 extends downwardly from the toggle 326 and through an annular contact block 33t) carried on the control rod 313. Two adjustable stops 332 and 334 are located on either side of the contact block 330 and are securely attached to the link bar 328. As the control rod SiS is pivoted about its pivotal mount 322 the contact block 33d` moves relative to the link `bar 32S and the adjustable stops 332i, 334. When the loop` 31d reaches a preset minimal limit the control rod 318 rotates in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. l to the upper position indicated by the dotted lines. The contact block 33d tiren hits the upper stop 334 thus carrying the link bar 32S in an upward direction and therefore moving the toggle 326 of the toggle switch 325. As the toggle 32d is moved upwardly the switch 325 is placed in its on position and the motor 299 is energized, thus delivering rotational power to the trimming and laminating station dit. As the loop 3M of facing strip 33 increases in length the control bar 318 pivots in a clockwise direction as the weighted roller 32?/ moves downwardly. When the control rod 31S reaches its lowermost position, indicated by lowermost dotted lines in FG. l, the Contact block 33dhits the lower adjustable stop 332 drawing the link bar 32S down which is therefore effective, through the toggle 325, to place the toggle switch 32S in its off position. As the facing strip 3.8 is assembled with the core strip itl in the assembly station 36 kthe supply of facing strip 33 in the loop dilo will be diminished thus drawing the control bar 311.3 in an upwardly direction and the cycle of operations of the control device 312 is repeated as described.

Referring now to FlGS. 2 and 4, descn'ption will be made of the control device which governs the openation of the cut-off means 138. Located on a rearward extension of upper shaft 92 of roller 391 is a timing pulley 336 which is connected through belt 33S to the timing wheel 340. The timing wheel 312s@ is mounted for rotation on a shaft 342 which is secured to the rear bearing support 19S located rearwardly of forming roller dit. Projecting transversely to the radius of the timing wheel 349` is a stud 344 which makes contact with the contact arm 346 of the micro switch lidi? once for each rotation of the timing wheel 340. The normally opened micro switch 180 is connected in the power line Ito the cutting device solenoid 164, as has been heretofore described and as seen in FG. 3. lt will thus be appreciated that the cut-off mechanism 133 operates once for each revoiution of the timing wheel 340. It should be noted that the ylength of buckle stock l2 which is produced as a result of the cut-off operations of the cut-off mechanism 138 may be controlled by a variation in the speed of the timing wheel 14). This is easily accomplished by varying the diameters of the timing pulley 336 and the timing wheel 340. Thus, it is possible to produce lengths of buckle stock 12 of any desired length.

A latitude of modiication, substitution and change is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be used without a use of other corresponding features. Accordingly, the claims herein should be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is z` l. The method of forming buckle-forming stock from 4a flat elongated metallic core strip and a facing strip comprising the steps of bending said core strip to form an elongated ,main core section of approximately two-thirds of the width of said core strip and an elongated edgeadjacent clinching section bent back and extending at an angle to said main core section, wrapping said facing snip about the outer face of said core strip and bringing opposite edge portions of said facing strip into superposed relation intermediate the inner face of said clinching section and the inner face of said main core section, bending said clinching section against said inner yface of said main core section to clinch said opposite edge portions of said facing strip and to secure said facing strip about said core strip, and bending the assembly of said main core section and the wrapped around facing strip longitudinally in half to tbring the halves of said main core section into confronting relation with said clinching sect-ion sandwiched between said halves to complete said buckle-forming stock.

2. The method of forming buckle-forming stock lfrom a ilat elongated :metallic core str-ip yand a facing strip comprising the steps of bending said core strip to form an elongated main core section of at least two-thirds the width of said core strip and an elongated edge-adjacent clinching section bent back and extending at approximately right angles to said main core section, folding said facing `strip about said core strip and bringing opposite edge portions of said facing strip into superposed relation intermediate the inner face of said clinching section and the adjacent face of said m-ain core section, bending said clinching section against said main core section to clinch said opposite edge portions of said facing strip `and secure said facing strip about said core strip, and bending the assembly of said main core section and the wrapped around facing strip longitudinally in half to bring the halves of said main core section into confronting and substantially parallel relation Iwith `said clinching section sandwiched between said halves to complete said buckleforming stock.

3. The method of forming buckle-forming stock from a at, elongated, sheet metal core strip and a facing strip comprising the steps of bending said core strip to form an elongated main core section and an elongated edgeadjacent clinching section bent back and extending at an angle to said main core section, said clinching section being of a width less than one half the width of said main core section, wrapping said facing strip about the outer face of said core strip and bringing opposite edge portions of said facing strip into superposcd relation intermediate the inner face of said clinching section and the inner face of said main core section, bending said clinching section against said inner face of said main core section to clinch said opposite edge portions of said facing strip land secure said facing strip about said -core strip, an-d bending the assembly of said main core section and the wrapped around facing strip longitudinally in half to bring the halves of said assembly into confronting relation with said clinching section sandwiched between said halves to `complete a length of buckle-forming stock.

4. A machine `for fabricating sheathed buckle-making stock from an elongated metallic core strip and la laminated facing strip constructed from a material facing and a lining strip comprising a yframe, core preforming means mounted on said frame including rollers to form Ia longitudinal told line in said core strip to define a main ycore section and a clinching section at an angle thereto, said preforming means dening a feed path in said machine, facing strip assembly means mounted on said frame removed from said feed path including laminating means to join said material facing to said lining strip, a folder mounted on said frame vand along said feed path ladapted to receive both said preformed core strip and said facing Strip and to wrap said facing strip about said preformed core strip such that the edges of said facing strip are adjacent said fold line and within said angle yformed by said main core section and said `clinching section, shaping means mounted on said yframe an-d along said feed path including Ka pair of opposed clinching rollers to fold said clinching section against said main core section with the edges of said facing strip secured therebetween, at least one pair of folding rollers mounted for rotation on said frame for folding said main core section about said clinching section, and `drive means connected to said preform- 13 ing rollers, said clinching rollers and said `folding rollers for driving same.

5. A machine for forming buckle-making stock of the type including sheet metal core and a wrapped around facing comprising a frame, ymeans defining a core-preforming station on said frame including first and second strip-'bending means for forming a metallic core strip with a :main core section and a side-adjacent clinching section bent back at `an angle thereto, said clincliing section 'being less than one half the width of said main core section, means mounted on said lframe defining ya facing-laminating station for adhesively combining a continuous lining strip to pieces of ya facing material to form a continuous liningbacked facing strip, said laminating station including an adhesive-applying unit for coating one face of said continuous lining strip with said adhesive, combining rollers for bringing successive pieces of said facing material into contact under pressure with the adhesive coated face of said strip, and trimming means for trimming the opposite side edges of the laminated facing strip, an `assembly sta tion for wrapping and securing said yfacing strip about said core strip, said assembly station including a folder mounted on `said frame for receiving both said core strip and said facing strip `and constructed to wrap said facing strip about said core strip with the longitudinal edges of said facing strip positioned between said main core section -and said :clinching section, roller means mounted for rotation on said frame for bending said clinching section against said main core section for securing said lfacing strip about said core strip, `further roller means mounted on said `frame to longitudinally fold said main core section in half with said main core section surrounding said clinching section to complete a continuous length of buckle stock.

6. A machine for forming bucklemraking stock of the type including a continuous `sheet metal core and a wrapped `around facing comprising, a frame, means defining a core-preforming station mounted on said Lframe including strip-bending rollers for forming a `metallic core strip with a main core section and a sideeadjacent clinching section bent back at an angle thereto, said clinching section being less than one-half the width of `said main core section, said core-preforming station `defining ia material ifeedpath, facing material feed means mounted on Said frame for feeding Ifacing material into said feedpath, assembly means on said frame for wrapping and securing said facing strip about said core strip, lsaid assembly means including a folder receiving facing material and constructed to wrap said facing strip `about said core strip with the longitudinal edges of said facing strip positioned between said main core section and said clinching section, successive rollers mounted on said frame along said feedpath for bending said -clinching section against said main core section for securing said facing strip about said core strip, `and 'further rollers mounted on said frame along said feedpath for longitudinally folding said main core section in half `with said main core section surrounding said clinching section to complete a length of buckle stock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 384,449 Kelsey lune 12, 1888 432,726 Cosper July 22, 1890 591,997 Bishop Oct. 19, 1897 617,363 Skogse lan. 10, 1899 648,357 Field Apr. 24, 1900 658,077 Thomas Sept. 18, 1900 714,471 Gaisman Nov. 25, 1902 1,019,805 Koenig Mar. 12, 1912 1,695,622 Wachsmuth Dec. 18, 1928 1,760,046 Dixon May 27, 1930 1,834,554 Taylor Dec. 1, 1931 1,944,718 Rafter Ian. 23, 1934 2,010,674 Lang Aug. 6, 1935 2,061,286 Millett Nov. 17, 1936 2,133,482 Scuderi et al Oct. 18, 1938 2,211,362 Bennett Aug. 13, 1940 2,326,828 Camp Aug. 17, 1943 2,326,833 Camp Aug. 17, 1943 2,327,689 Wyrick Aug. 24, 1943 2,382,367 Donath Aug. 14, 1945 2,644,776 Williams et al. July 7, 1953 2,676,389 Conning Apr. 27, 1954 2,739,367 Winbcrg Mar. 27, 1956 2,825,384 Goldsmith Mar. 4, 1958 2,853,756 Gentiluomo Sept. 30, 1958 2,902,754 Lorenian Sept. 8, 1959 2,916,072 Hallam Dec. 8, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 618,137 Great Britain Feb. 17, 1949 

6. A MACHINE FOR FORMING BUCKLE-MAKING STOCK OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A CONTINUOUS SHEET METAL CORE AND A WRAPPED AROUND FACING COMPRISING, A FRAME, MEANS DEFINING A CORE-PREFORMING STATION MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME INCLUDING STRIP-BENDING ROLLERS FOR FORMING A METALLIC CORE STRIP WITH A MAIN CORE SECTION AND A SIDE-ADJACENT CLINCHING SECTION BENT BACK AT AN ANGLE THERETO, SAID CLINCHING SECTION BEING LESS THAN ONE-HALF THE WIDTH OF SAID MAIN CORE SECTION, SAID CORE-PREFORMING STATION DEFINING A MATERIAL FEEDPATH, FACING MATERIAL FEED MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR FEEDING FACING MATERIAL INTO SAID FEEDPATH, ASSEMBLY MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR WRAPPING AND SECURING SAID FACING STRIP ABOUT SAID CORE STRIP, SAID ASSEMBLY MEANS INCLUDING A FOLDER RECEIVING FACING MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTED TO WRAP SAID FACING STRIP ABOUT SAID CORE STRIP WITH THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF SAID FACING STRIP POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID MAIN CORE SECTION AND SAID CLINCHING SECTION, SUCCESSIVE ROLLERS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ALONG SAID FEEDPATH FOR BENDING SAID CLINCHING SECTION AGAINST SAID MAIN CORE SECTION FOR SECURING SAID FACING STRIP ABOUT SAID CORE STRIP, AND FURTHER ROLLERS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ALONG SAID FEEDPATH FOR LONGITUDINALLY FOLDING SAID MAIN CORE SECTION IN HALF WITH SAID MAIN CORE SECTION SURROUNDING SAID CLINCHING SECTION TO COMPLETE A LENGTH OF BUCKLE STOCK. 